Arlington Heights Cyclist Dies At Conclusion Of AIDS/LifeCycle Ride

LOS ANGELES — An Arlington Heights resident died last week at the conclusion of a charity bike ride in California. Glen Brown, 57, was involved in a single-bike accident at the end of the AIDS/Life Cycle 2022 Ride on June 11, according to race officials.

Brown, an experienced cyclist, was near the finish line of a nearly 600-mile trek from San Francisco to Los Angeles when the accident occurred. No other riders or vehicles were involved. The weeklong ride began on June 5.

"The grief at this time is overwhelming and our hearts go out to all of Glen’s family members, friends, and loved ones," AIDS/Life Cycle 2022 Ride organizers said in a social media post. "Together, we will move forward with Glen in our hearts."

Brown, who had never participated in the AIDS/Life Cycle California ride before, had ridden in both the Minneapolis-to-Chicago AIDS Ride and the Boston-to-New York AIDS Ride in the past.

"The HIV/AIDS epidemic still ravages the world, and I want to make a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS," Brown wrote in his personal blog for the ride.

The annual ride raises funds for HIV/AIDS care at the Los Angeles LGBT Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundation. According to his fundraising page, Brown reached his goal of raising $5,000.

"This is Glen’s sister & best friend, Janet. We as a family & all of his friends are absolutely gutted. Your support & words mean SO much to me. I cannot begin to express my sincere love for all of you," Brown's sister, Janet Brown McCarthy, wrote on the AIDS/Life Cycle Facebook page. "Glen was in his happy place, having the time of his life. He actually had completed 2 AIDS Rides in years past prior to this one. And he knew that he would be surrounded again with unconditional love. And little did we know that this love would be until the very end. Peace and love to all of you. Love each other."

Brown was a senior designer at Walter. E. Smithe Furniture & Design.